Tone hole closure means for wood instrument



P 1965 E. H. CARRUTHERS 3,205,752

TONE HOLE CLOSURE MEANS FOR WOOD INSTRUMENT Filed July 51. 1964 III/II INVENTOR.

5 BE N H. CH RRUTHERS United States Patent 3,205,752 TONE HOLE CLOSURE MEANS FOR WOOD INSTRUMENT Eben H. Carruthers, P.O. Box 40, Warrenton, Oreg. Filed July 31, 1964, Ser. No. 386,676 Claims. (Cl. 8438tl) This invention relates to improvements in musical wind instruments, and more particularly to novel closure means for closing and opening tone holes in the instrument that control the pitch of emitted musical tones.

Instruments of the wood-wind type, whether actually made of wood, metal, or some other material, are characterized by having a tubular instrument body for holding a column of air which makes a musical note when set in vibration. Tone holes opening into the interior of the instrument body control pitch, and for proper playing, it is important that when a tone hole is closed, that it be closed in a completely air-tight manner and all flow of air through the hole be prevented.

In conventional wood-wind instruments, it is common to provide yieldiable pads for closing tone holes, which may comprise a piece of felt or like material, and a covering for the felt such as skin or other thin film. This pad is stationarily mounted on an arm, and the pad pressed against the outer end of a tone hole to effect closure of the hole by swinging the arm. Difiiculties arise from such a structure, in that care must be taken in mounting the pad to adjust the pad on the arm so that is will make proper contact when closing a tone hole. Further, a tone hole frequently is bounded at its outer end by some form of annular ridge, which the pad presses against on closing the hole. The pad, after some use, takes a permanent crease matching the profile of the ridge used therewith, and after such a crease forms, care must be taken to see that the pad is maintained in a proper aligned position relative to the tone hole it controls. Any bending of an arm or other structure supporting the pad may result in misalignment, such that when it is attempted to close the tone hole, the pad does not seat properly and leakage occurs. Looseness and play in the various parts mounting the pad can also cause such leakage problems.

With instruments made of Wood, the annular ridge bounding a tone hole for seating a pad often is milled from the main body of the instrument, and being of wood is subject to chipping and cracking. This also can prevent proper closing, and be detrimental to playing.

Obtaining proper feel in an instrument is an important consideration in devising closures for tone holes. Most performers prefer a fairly hard stop, or solid resistance to finger pressure on closing of a hole, as opposed to a soft or uncertain stop. It is desirable that this feel be obtained without sacrificing the requirement for only light finger pressure to close a hole.

A general object of this invention is to provide novel closure means for a tone hole, which gives proper feel, and may be actuated to close the hole tightly, with only light finger pressure.

Another object is to provide such closure means, which does not require skillful and painstaking adjustments to place working parts in proper playing condition, and to maintain this condition.

A further object is to provide a closure means that may be readily incorporated with multiple tone holes and actuated by a single key or touchpiece to produce closure of such holes in an optimum manner.

A more specific object is to provide closure means of the type described which comprises an annular member of compressible and resilient material mounted on the instrument body, about the outer end of a tone hole,

3,205,752 Patented Sept. 14, 1965 which presents an annular sealing edge facing away from the instrument, compressible under pressure, and in combination with this annular member a cover including a fiat-faced inner marginal surface which is forced against the sealing edge and compresses it while closing the hole.

A related object concerns the provision of novel mechanism mounting such a cover, including swivel means, whereby the cover automatically seeks a position exerting even pressure on the sealing edge when closing a tone hole.

This invention further features a novel combination of closure means for multiple tone holes, featuring a compressible but relatively unyielding annular member encircling the outer end of one hole, and a compressible and more easily deformed annular member encircling the outer end of another tone hole, and key-actuated mechanism for bringing covers for both the tone holes into proper sealing contact with the annular members, where a sealed relationship with the more easily deformed member is produced prior to producing such a relationship with the relatively unyielding member.

According to a preferred embodiment, an annular member of compressible and resilient material is mounted in a counterbore extending inwardly on the instrument body at the outer end of a tone hole. The member includes a base which rests on the floor of this counterbore, and an inner circumferential surface which meets smoothly with the surface defining the inside of the tone hole. A sealing edge is presented by the annular member which faces outwardly and is disposed generally above the level of the outer surface of the instrument body. Where it is desired to have the edge give inwardly under light pressure, the edge is carried on the end of a flaring skirt portion in the annular member, with walls of the skirt disposed at an angle relative to the members center axis, so that these walls flex upon an inward force being exerted against the edge by a tone hole cover.

These and other objects are attained by the invention, and the same is described hereinbelow in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates portions of a wood-wind instrument, including closure means for a pair of tone holes, as contemplated herein;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view, on a somewhat larger scale, taken generally along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a wood-wind instrument, similar to the one shown in FIG. 2, on an even larger scale, illustrating a modification of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a simplified illustrative drawing, demonstrating the closing of two tone holes according to this invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and first of all more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a portion of Wind instrument such as an oboe is indicated at 10. By specifying an oboe it is not intended to exclude the employment of the invention with other instruments, such as clarinet, flute, saxophone, etc. The instrument comprises an elongated hollow instrument body 12, and tone holes 14, 16 projecting through the wall of the instrument body. As best shown in FIG. 2, such tone holes have inner and outer ends communicating with the interior and exterior of the instument body, respectively.

In the portion of the instrument shown in FIG. 1, key-actuated mechanism, indicated generally at 20, enables closing of both tone holes with actuation of a single touchpiece or key 22. Describing mechanism 20 in more detail, supporting posts 24, 26 attached as by fastener 28 to the side of the instrument body receive .a hinge pin 30 extending between the posts. Journaled on the hinge pin are tubes 32, 34. Fastened to tube 32 is an arm 36 extending laterally of the tube to a point over and adjacent tone hole 14. Similarly, fastened to tube 34 is an arm 38 extending laterally of the tube to a point over and adjacent tone hole 16. Shown integral with arms 36, 38 are caps 40, 42, respectively, which constitute supports for tone hole covers to be described.

Interconnect-mg tubes 32, 34, whereby rotation of one is imparted to the other, is a lever arm 44 attached to tube 34 including an end 44a lying to one side of hinge tube 32. An extension 46 is fastened to tube 32, having a screw 48 mounted on the free end thereof overlying and spaced from end 44a of arm 44 in FIG. 1. On depressing the touchpiece or key, arm 44 raises toward the viewer in FIG. 1, and comes against screw 48, which rotates tube 32 to swing arm 36 and cap 44) downwardly. With adjustment of screw 48, the spacing between the screw and extension 46 may be changed, and this has the effect of changing the time at which contact between screw 43 and the extension occurs when the touchpiece is depressed, and also the relative position of arms 36, 38 on the hinge pin with the touchpiece fully depressed. Needle springs 50, 52 function to swing arms 36, 38 and their caps away from the tone holes on release of the touchpiece. A foot such as foot 54 may be provided for each of the arms 36, 38 which comes to rest on the body of the instrument to limit outward movement of caps 41), 42.

The posts, hinge pin, tubes and arms of the key-actuated mechanism generally described for the most part exemplify mechanism known in the art for interconnecting closure devices of multiple tone holes, whereby actuation of a single key produces closing of the holes. This invention more particular concerns the means actuated by arms 36, 38 which opens and closes the tone holes, and the co operating means provided on the instrument body functioning to make closing of a tone hole absolute.

More particularly, and considering tone hole 16 shown in detail in FIG. 2, the instrument body is provided at the outer end of the hole with a flat-bottomed counterbore 56, which is axially aligned with the tone hole but of larger diameter. Fixed in a suitable manner to floor 58 of the counterbore in an annular member 60 of compressible and resilient material, which may be made of molded rubber, or other e'lastomer.

Member 66 has an inner circumferential surface 62 of substantially the same diameter as the tone hole, which meets smoothly with the surface defining hole 16. Circumferential surface 62 flares progressively axially outwardly toward the exterior of the instrument, and terminates in an annular sealing edge, or seat, 66. Edge 66 has a diameter somewhat less than the outer diameter of member 60 and somewhat greater than the members inner diameter, and in cross section inner circumferential surface 62 and the members outer surface 68 form an apex at edge 66. Thus, directly behind the edge is an annular wall which directly supports the edge, and is compressed on an inward force being exerted on the edge.

Cap 42 for tone hole 16 has a generally circular outline, i.e., a disc shape. Mounted in fixed position thereon, and terminating in ball 72, is a pin 70. A tone =hole cover 74, preferably made of metal or other relatively rigid or nonyielding material, takes the form of a discshaped plate and contains a centrally located spherical cavity 76. The cavity receives ball 72, whereby a swiveled mounting is provided for the cover on the lower end of pin 70. Cover 74, which may have a diameter approximately corresponding to the diameter of cap 42, further includes a flat-surfaced margin 78 on the underside thereof, adapted to brought into contact with sealing edge 66 of annular member 60. Tilting of the cover relative to the cap is limited in any direction by the edge thereof striking the lower margin of the cap directly overlying the cover. Friction between ball 72 and the surface of cavity 76 prevents flapping of the cover during normal movement of the cap.

Describing the operation of the cover and associated structure just described, when cap42 is swung down wardly toward tone hole 16, this swings cover 74 in an arc toward the tone hole, ultimately to place the cover over annular member 60, with the cover and annular member substantially aligned. Since the cover is swiveled at its center, it automatically seeks a position paralleling the plane of edge 66 on coming into contact with the edge, with margins thereof bearing with substantially equal pressure on all portions of edge 66. Edge 66 is forced inwardly slightly, with compression of member 60, upon inward pressure exerted on the cover, and as a consequence, a tight seal between the cover and annular member is produced. It is not necessary exactly to align the cover and member 60, or to eliminate all play in the parts, since the flat-surfaced margin on the underside of the cover may be ofifset radially to some extent relative to edge 66 and still produce good sealing contact. The cover is devoid of a pad or other means susceptible to creasing after use, and requiring proper alignment with the tone hole to produce a good seal. A relatively firm material may be use for the annular member, whereby a performer, on using the closure means, has the feel of a relatively sol-id stop under the cover.

Referring now to MG. 3, where a modification of the invention is illustrated, here a tone hole 80 is shown, having a counterbore recessed at the outer end of the hole receiving an annular member 82. As in the case of the first modification, the base of this member rests on the floor of the counterbore and inner circumferential surface 84 of member 82 meets smoothly with the surface defining the tone hole.

In this modification of the invention, member 82 includes an annular flange '86 forming the base thereof, and joined to this flange an annular flaring skirt 88 with walls disposed at an angle relative to the center axis of the member. The walls of the skirt terminate at 90 in a sealing edge or seat, supported in a region located radially outwardly of the Zone of joinder of the skirt walls with flange 86. A swiveled cover 92 for the tone hole is brought down against this sealing edge to close off the tone hole, and this cover may be mounted on a cap and arm similar to the structure described in connection with FIG. 2.

For a given rubber or other elastomer composition, the construction shown in FIG. 3 produces a greater yieldability in the sealing edge upon a force being exerted thereagainst than the construction shown in FIG. 2. When cover 92 is brought into contact with the sealing edge and forced axially inwardly along the axis of the tone hole, inward movement of the sealing edge is accompanied with flexing of the walls of skirt 88, as indicated by the dashed outline for the skirt in FIG. 3. This bending or flexing of the skirt is accompanied with slight stretching of edge 90. i

With the invention, a pair of tone holes such as those illustrated in FIG. 1 at 14 and 16 may be closed tightly by a common key, and with a solid feel to the key. By way of example, this may be done by providing tone hole 16 with an annular member such as the one illustrated at 60 which is compressible and resilient but relatively unyielding. Tone hole 14 may be provided with an annular member about the outer end thereof having greater yieldability in its seat or sealing edge than the annular member for hole 16. To obtain this yieldability, the member of FIG. 3, for instance, may be incorporated for this other tone hole. The structure interconnecting the caps for the two tone holes, more particularly arm 44,

extension 46, and screw 48, is set whereby hole 14 with its yieldable edge is closed prior to closing of hole 16.

This is the closing sequence illustrated in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 4, a portion of annular member 60- for tone hole 16 is shown, together with a portion of an nular member 82 for tone hole 14, with covers A and B for these tone holes over the annular members. FIG. 4 is a view along the side of the instrument, showing the relative position of the covers, when cover B for hole 14 first comes into sealing relationship with member 82. As shown in FIG. 4, with cover B in this position, it occupies a plane P parallel to the sealing edge of member 82. Cover A for hole 16, however, is spaced from member 60 and occupies a plane P slightly inclined to the plane of the top of member 60. After the covers reach the position shown, and on further depressing the key actuating the covers, cover B moves axially inwardly on hole 14, with the sealing edge of member 82 yielding inwardly freely while maintaining a good seal, until such time as cover A comes into full contact with the sealing edge of member 60. At this time, both tone holes are fully closed. The relatively unyielding nature of member 60 produces a solid feel at this point.

It should be apparent from the above that the invention contemplates a number of novel features. Tight closing of tone holes may be produced, and there is no need for fine adjustment to obtain such closing. Tight closing characteristics are retained over a period of use, even though parts should be inadvertently bent, or become loose, etc. The rubber or other elastomer composition selected for the annular members inhibits cracking and chipping of the sealing edges described. The edges give inwardly somewhat in producing a seal with the covers. The covers automatically seek a position bearing evenly on the annular members, and are protected by the caps superimposed thereover, which also function to limit the swivel movement permitted in the covers. With multiple tone holes, proper closing is accomplished without loss of proper feel.

While there has been described modifications of the invention, obviously changes and variations are possible without departing therefrom. It is desired to cover all such modifications and variations as would be apparent to one skilled in the art, and that come within the scope of the appended claims.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a musical wind instrument including an elongated hollow instrument body,

a tone hole in the wall of the instrument body having an outer end communicating with the exterior of said instrument body,

an annular member of flexible and resilient material mounted on said body about the outer end of said tone hole, including an annular base and an annular skirt joined to said base which extends radially relative to the axis of said tone hole and terminates in a marginal portion supported by the base in a region spaced radially from the base, said marginal portion including an annular seat yieldably supported by said skirt for movement axially of the tone hole with such movement being accommodated by flexing of said skirt, and

a movable cover mounted on said instrument body adapted to close the tone hole by coming against said seat and forcing said seat toward said instrument body with flexing of said skirt.

2. The musical instrument of claim 1, wherein said skirt flares outwardly progressing away from the instrument body.

3. The wind instrument of claim 1, wherein said annular seat comprises an edge on said marginal portion facing outwardly on said instrument toward said cover.

4. For a musical instrument having a tone hole terminating in an outer end which communicates with the exterior of the instrument and a cover for closing the tone hole, an annular member of flexible and resilient material disposed about the outer end of said tone hole including a base and joined to the base and facing outwardly on the instrument an annular skirt which extends radially relative to the axis of the tone hole and terminates in a Cir 6 marginal portion which is supported by the base in a region spaced radially from the base, said marginal portion including an annular seat which is yieldably supported by the skirt for movement axially of the tone hole upon said cover coming against said annular member with such movement being accommodated by flexing of said skirt.

5. In a musical wind instrument including an elongated hollow instrument body, a pair of tone holes in the wall of said instrument body, each having an outer end communicating with the exterior of the instrument body,

a movable cover for each tone hole, and key-actuated mechanism interconnecting the covers operable when actuated to move both covers to a position closing the tone holes, and

an annular member of flexible and resilient material mounted on said body about the outer end of each tone hole contacted by a cover on such cover closing the tone hole,

each of said annular members including annular sealing means facing outwardly on the instrument that yields inwardly on the cover moving thereagainst thus to produce a good seal, each of said covers including a flat-faced marginal portion on the inner side thereof that engages the sealing means of a member, on the cover moving against the member, the sealing means of the annular member for one of said tone holes having greater yieldability than the sealing means of the annular member for the other tone hole, said key-actuated mechanism moving the cover for said one tone hole into sealing relation with the sealing means for the hole prior to movement of the cover for said other tone hole into sealing relation with the sealing means for said other tone hole.

6. The instrument of claim 5, wherein said key-actuated mechanism includes a support for each cover, and swivel means mounts the outer side of each cover on its support.

7. In a musical instrument including an elongated hollow instrument body,

a pair of tone holes in the wall of said instrument body, each having an outer end communicating with the exterior of the instrument body,

a movable cover for each tone hole, and key-actuated mechanism interconnecting the covers operable when actuated to move both covers to a position closing the tone holes,

an annular member of compressible and resilient material about the outer end of one of said tone holes, including an annular sealing edge facing outwardly on the instrument and directly axially behind and supporting said edge, a substantially annular Wall which by axial compression of the wall resiliently supports said edge, and

a second annular member of compressible and resilient material about the outer end of the other tone hole, including an annular sealing edge facing outwardly on the instrument and an annular skirt supporting said edge with walls disposed at an angle relative to the center axis of the member, said walls flexing on said sealing edge being forced inwardly on the in strument,

said key-actuated mechanism being constructed and arranged to move the cover for said other tone hole into sealing engagement with the sealing edge of said second annular member prior to movement of the cover for the said one tone hole into sealing engagement with the sealing edge of said first-mentioned annular member.

8. In a musical wind instrument including an elongated hollow instrument body,

a tone hole in the wall of said instrument body having an outer end communicating with the exterior of the instrument body,

an annular member of flexible and resilient material mounted on said body about the outer end of said tone hole,

a cover having an inner side facing said annular member and the outer end of said tone hole, said cover being stiff and relatively nondeformable in comparison with said annular member,

a support for said cover on the side of the cover opposite its said inner side and adjacent the cover, and

swivel means mounting said cover on said support, said support being movable toward said tone hole for the purpose of closing the tone hole, with said cover moving against said annular member and producing a seal with the member on such movement.

9. In a musical wind instrument including an elongated hollow instrument body,

a tone hole in the wall of said instrument body having an outer end communicating with the exterior of the instrument body,

an annular member of flexible and resilient material mounted on said body about the outer end of said tone hole,

a disc-shaped cover of rigid material and relatively nondeformable in comparison with said annular member having an inner side with a flat-faced marginal portion overlying said annular member,

a disc-shaped support for said cover on the side of the cover opposite its inner side, said support having a marginal portion overlying the edge of said cover on its said opposite side, and

swivel means mounting said cover on said suport, said support being movable toward the tone hole for the purpose of closing the hole, with said fiat-faced marginal portion of said cover moving against said annular member and producing a seal with the member on such movement.

10. The musical instrument of claim 9, wherein said annular member includes an annular skirt supporting said sealing edge, said skirt extending radially of the tone hole and providing yieldable support for the sealing edge accommodating movement of the edge axially of the tone hole with flexing of said skirt on said cover coming against said sealing edge.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,604,360 10/26 McLean 84-385 1,702,962 2/29 Buescher 84-380 1,728,553 9/29 Klinger S L-385 1,747,113 2/30 Gulick 84385 2,227,230 12/40 Sander 84-385 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,255,957 2/ 61 France.

LEO SMILOW, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENT INCLUDING AN ELONGATED HOLLOW INSTRUMENT BODY, A TONE HOE IN THE WALL OF THE INSTRUMENT BODY HAVING AN OUTER END COMMUNICATING WITH THE EXTERIOR OF SAID INSTRUMENT BODY, AN ANNULAR MEMBER OF FLEXIBLE AND RESILIENT MATERIAL MOUNTED ON SAID BODY ABOUT THE OUTER END OF SAID TONE HOLE, INCLUDING AN ANNULAR BASE AND AN ANNULAR SKIRT JOINED TO SAID BASE WHICH EXTENDS RADIALLY RELATIVE TO THE AXIS OF SAID TONE HOLE AND TERMINATES IN A MARGINAL PORTION SUPPORTED BY THE BASE IN A REGION SPACED RADIALLY FROM THE BASE, SAID MARGINAL PORTION INCLUDING AN ANNULAR SEAT YIELDABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID SKIRT FOR MOVEMENT AXIALLY OF THE TONE HOLE WITH SUCH MOVEMENT BEING ACCOMMODATED BY FLEXING OF SAID SKIFT, AND A MOVABLE COVER MOUNTED ON SAID INSTRUMENT BODY ADAPTED TO CLOSE THE TONE HOLE BY COMING AGAINST SAID SEAT AND FORCING SAID SEAT TOWARD SAID INSTRUMENT BODY WITH FLEXING OF SAID SKIRT. 